Lamb marking and operating cradle



Jan. 15, 1935. J. Y. SHANNON LAMB MARKING AND OPERATING CRADLE Filed Aug. 6, 1952 f/wen Z01 efohn Yamala Shem/10m.

Patented Jan. 15, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE John Yamala Shannon, Rodney Downs,

Ilfracombe, Queensland, Australia Application August 6, 1932, Serial No. 627,721 In Australia August 24, 1931 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a lamb marking and operating cradle, and is designed with the object of dispensing with the manual holding of lambs, whereby a given number of lambs can be handled with a lesser number of men than is employed under the present conditions, thus effecting a considerable saving of cost.

The invention consists of a cradle constructed of metal bars, one end of which is of half circular form and the other end straight, the cradle is suspended on pins between two posts.

An inner clamping frame provided with forked ends is hingedly fitted to the straight end of the cradle upon which it swings.

An adjustable strap is attached to the side 15 bars of the cradle and to the ends of the cradle is stitched a bed of suitable material for supporting the lambs.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view.

1 is a straight bar of metal forming one end of the cradle, 2 the horizontal sides provided with bearings 3 for swinging upon pins in posts fixed on to the ground in suitable location, 4 the half circular other end of the cradle.

5 is the inner clamping frame formed with forked ends providing spaces 6 into which the hind legs of the lambs at the hooks are slipped, 30 the inner clamping frame is hinged at 7 to the straight end of the cradle. cate the cradle bed which may be of bagging, canvas, leather or other suitable material which is stitched on to the ends of the cradle.

9 is an adjustable strap for holding down the lamb, said strap is attached to one of the sides of the cradle at 10 and fitted over a pin 11 on the other side.

In using the invention, the cradle is supported 40 on posts near the sheep yard and the clamping frame swung over the fence: a lamb is then placed 8, 8a and 8b indihold the lamb when in operating position.

on its back on the bed of the cradle with its head at 8, its back at 8a and its tail at 81), the clamping frame is then swung over the lamb, its hind legs are slipped into the spaces 6 and it is then secured by the strap 9 behind its forelegs and operations such as castrating, ear marking and tail 5 cutting can then be easily carried out.

When the operations are finished, the lambs legs are slipped out of the spaces 6, the strap released, the end 1 of the cradle tilted up and the lamb tipped out of same at 8b; the cradle is then 10 returned to its horizontal position for further use.

The invention, although described for the purpose of handlinglambs for ear marking et cetera, is also applicable for use in crutching and in spraying sheep.

I claim:

1. A lamb marking and operating cradle comprising a straight end bar, a half circular end bar, two straight side bars connectingthe end bars, bearings provided on the side bars and 20 adapted to be mounted on supports whereby the cradle may be oscillated, an inner clamping frame hinged to the straight end bar, forked ends on said frame, an eyeletted strap attached to one of the side bars, a stud on the opposite side bar to engage the eyelets in the strap, and a bed secured to the two end bars of the cradle.

2. A lamb marking and operating apparatus comprising two parallel side bars and one straight and one curved end bar forming a swinging cradle, means on the side bars to receive supports upon which the cradle may swing, a clamping frame hinged to the straight end bar, forked ends on said frame, a bed of flexible material permanently attached at one of its ends to the 35 straight end bar and at its opposite end to the curved end bar, and a securing strap permanently attached to one of the side bars and detachably and adjustably attached to the other side bar to JOHN YAMALA SHANNON. 40 

